Spicing up Northern Australia with high-value condiment crops

Project locations: Rockhampton, Biloela, Ayr, Tully,Katherine, Darwin,Kununurra

Project partners: CQUniversity ; Agriventis Technologies Pty Ltd ; Rockhampton Regional Council ; T.R.A.P Services ; Burdekin Bowen Integrated Flood Plain Management Advisory Committee Inc (BBIFMAC) ; Foxwell Farming ; G Kennedy and I.J Kennedy ; Kenrose Co Pty Ltd ; Kennedy Valley Farming ; NT Dept. Industry, Tourism and Trade ; WA Dept. Primary Industries and Regional Development

Project summary and impacts

The Spicing up northern Australia with high-value condiment crops project explored the potential for establishing a new high-value spice industry across northern Australia. Funded by CRCNA and delivered by CQUniversity Australia in partnership with AgriVentis Technologies Ltd, the project evaluated the agronomic performance, commercial viability and market opportunities for a range of spice and condiment crops suited to northern farming systems.

Over three years, field trials were conducted across Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia, progressing promising crops through varietal evaluation, verification and commercial-scale production trials. The research identified black sesame, fennel and kalonji as the most suitable crops for northern Australian conditions, with black sesame demonstrating strong adaptability across multiple production regions and seasons.

The project generated valuable production, market and supply chain knowledge, providing growers with evidence-based information on incorporating high-value spices into existing crop rotations. It also highlighted key barriers to commercial expansion, including mechanised production systems, pest and weed management, and post-harvest processing requirements.

The findings laid the foundation for the follow-on Great Northern Spices program, supporting continued industry development, grower adoption and investment in new agricultural opportunities across northern Australia.